FREE WEEK

Series

Series Name: Mining Review 6th Year

Issue

Issue No.

Date Released

Sep 1952

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

NoS Summary - a mining family at Butlins’ Pwllheli holiday camp.
BFI synopsis: The Muckworthy family (from Aberamon Colliery) holiday at Butlins Includes judging of the Holiday Princess competition and facilities.
NCB Commentary - Not all miners live in the towns. Outside Mountain Ash in South Wales, for instance, the countryside is grand, and when Sam Mucksworthy and his family were offered a different kind of country holiday at Butlin’s, Pwllheli, they jumped at it.
When Sam collected his holilday pay at Aberamon Colliery, the men at the pit told him he was a lucky fellow. Meanwhile the missus was busy packing, helped by 7 year old Jennifer. Alan, aged 4, insisted on finding room for his lorry, but it just couldn’t be done.
So the whole family set out - Mother and Father, Jennifer and Alan - and elder sister Janet. It was a long journey for them too, all the way from South to North Wales by coach.
Now the fun begins as MC Dennis Redhead announces the holiday princess competition. Rounding up reluctant competitors makes the field look like a Wild West Rodeo. Sam and the missus are among the judges, with bandleader Ivy Benson and memory man Leslie Welch. There’s so much talent here that Sam’s in a quandry, but down goes his vote and - here she is. Holiday princess, the girl in the print frock, Mavis Greaty from Manchester. Now then Sam, who’s supposed to be getting the prize, her or you?
Of course Mother and Father didn’t have all the fun. There was plenty for the youngsters. On the playground there are nurses to keep an eye on sandcastle making, swings and roundabouts - all the toys that kiddies love. Janet, the elder daughter, tried her hand at the skating rink - but she lost her footing.
Cut away from the camp there’s horseback riding for the asking, over the lovely Welsh hills. But Sam would rather keep his eye in for the snooker contest, while Jennifer gets her first dancing lesson with a very attentive escort.
There’s peace and quiet at Pwllheli too. Even younsters like to relax now and then, counting the swans on the boating lake.
For Father and Mother, time off to think about what to do next. With most miners now taking a week’s paid holiday in the summer, there’ll be many more following the example of Sam and his family. Let’s hope they all have as good a time.

Researcher Comments

BFI sources suggest that this story was filmed from the 20th to the 24th June 1952. Commentary recorded 1 August 1952.

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